Checking around the Nhl Wings Still Looking

Checking around the Nhl Wings Still Looking

Article excerpt

Central Division

Red Wings GM Bryan Murray has redoubled his efforts to land a
new No. 1 goaltender, with Flames netminder Mike Vernon and Bob
Essensa of the Jets high on his list. Murray is turned off by Grant
Fuhr's history of health problems. . . . Toronto hit a rut, winning
just once in seven games (1-2-4). The Leafs are still hunting for a
No. 2 center . . . Someday the Jets may realize they made a
grievous error by giving up on prospect Yan Kaminsky, whom some
scouts compared to Teemu Selanne. Several teams bid for Kaminsky,
who fetched only Wayne McBean from the Islanders in a deal.

In a 6-4 loss to the Canucks, Blackhawks defenseman Steve Smith
had a plus-minus rating of minus 5. But a bigger long-term concern
for coach Darryl Sutter is offense, which is why he may promote the
kid line of Jeff Shantz, Sergei Krivokrasov and Steve Dubinsky en
masse from Indianapolis. Also, Sutter has an eye on offensive
defenseman Bryan Fogarty, currently toiling for Las Vegas in the
IHL. A battle with alcoholism knocked him out of the NHL.

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Pacific Division

Flames forward Robert Reichel has scored 12 goals in his last
11 games after just 13 in his first 44. Calgary's efforts to swap a
goaltender stalled when rookie Andrei Trefilov injured his knee . .
. The Sharks are on a 5-2-2 tear on the road, despite that loss in
St. Louis. Their 7-1 victory at Dallas was the most lopsided in
their history. In their eternal quest for talent, they may have
plucked a gem by landing center Slava Butsayev from the Flyers for
journeyman defender Rob Zettler. . . . The Oilers have really
stepped up their efforts to dump Dave Manson's salary and the Blues
have naturally made a bid.

Canucks center Cliff Ronning returned after missing eight games
because of a shoulder injury, but the team still lacks pep. Fans
and the media in Vancouver are on GM/coach Pat Quinn to drop the
latter title. . . . There's more strife in LA, where coach Barry
Melrose wondered why GM Nick Beverley didn't claim winger Martin
Gelinas on waivers. He went to Vancouver.

*****

Northeast Division

The Mike Ricci sweepstakes are heating up and the Blues figure
to stay involved. …